Hiring a Magician...

Where can I find a Magician?

Pro-Magic.net maintains an up-to-date and growing list of professional magicians who are keen to perform at your event! We currently have listings for magicians in: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, El Salvador, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Malta, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States.

(See the full list / Register as a magician)

But before you sign any contracts, there are a few things to consider:

Who is your Audience?

If you're putting on an event for adults, you won't want to hire a magician who's show is designed for children. Likewise, a performance that survives on mentalism probably won't hold the attention of 5-year-olds. Make sure the magician knows who your target will be and that they are comfortable and experienced in entertaining these types of audiences. Ask them about how they plan to structure the performance, and which stunts they plan to perform to verify this.

Making the choice

Hiring a particular magician can be a difficult choice to make, particularly if you have not seen his or her work first hand. Here are a few things that may make the choice a little clearer:

• Ask to see a performance
  You may be able to preview the performance at an upcoming public function or at a club performance. Be aware, that often if a magician performs primarily for corporate functions, it will be nearly impossible to sneak a peek at a live performance, as they will usually be at closed events.
  
  
• Ask for a promo kit
  Professional performers will have some sort of promotional kit that usually includes a variety of performance videos, photos, and a brochure. Comparing video footage of live performances is an excellent way to assess potential magicians for your event. Most professionals have a website that you can refer to as well, which should contain up-to-date literature, photos and even videos that you can download.
  
  
• Ask for references
  If you haven't been offered referees or written testimonials, request a reference from past hirers. This will help you to guage the level of experience of a magician, and also allow you the chance to assess a magician's suitability without fear of (too much) marketing spin.

Other Considerations

And now down to the nitty gritty:

• Public Liability Insurance
  If a magician will be interacting with your audience, it is imperative that he or she is covered for public liability. This is a standard level of cover that all professional performers should have. Ask to see a copy of their certificate of currency and be sure that the date is current, that the amount of cover is adequate for your event, and that activities related to the magician's performance are itemised on the certificate.
  
  
• Licenses, Memberships and Accreditations
  Licenses and accreditations vary from state to state, and country to country. Consider however, if a magician will be engaging with children, does he or she have appropriate accreditations to be working with children? If the magician will be working with fire or pyrotechnics, have the appropriate licenses been applied for? You may also be interested to know if a magician is a member of any professional magician or performer associations.